Air actuated racing game apparatus



July 15, 1952 J. R. CHRISTIAN AIR ACTUATED RACING GAME APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 13, 1949 INVENTOR.

July 15, 1952 J. R. CHRISTIAN 2,603,488

AIR ACTUATED RACING GAME APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1949 5 sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR.

July 15, 1952 J. R. CHRISTIAN 2,603,488

AIR ACTUATED RACING GAME APPARATUS Filed July 13, 1949 5 sheets-sheet 4 ,Mm BY m July l5, 1952 J. R. CHRISTIAN 2,603,488

AIR ACTUATED RACING GAME APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

MLM/@7 v Claims. l y

Patented July 15, 195.2R

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFElcE l AIR ACTUATED RACING GAMEAPPARATUS .lohn R. Christiamoston, Mass.- A Appucatipn July 13, 1949,'seria1 No. 104,415

This invention relates to game apparatus.

An important feature of my invention yis to provide a game apparatus for a considerable number of players whereby `when the goal or purpose of the game is achieved a signal is automatically given showing the winner andrenderingthe efforts of other players ineffective, thus immediately terminatingthe contest. Y,

Another featureis to provide su'ch apparatus of relatively simple construction to which toy figures can be added-or subtracted, all of which can be controlled by a single valve member.

In the operation of competitive games of skill at carnivals, beachesand similar pl-aces, in which each player pays to participate, it is important for the owner orv operator'to have instant control of the apparatus so another game can quickly be started when a player reaches the desired goal, hence it has been my object to provide control means for the apparatus that quickly and easilyoperates, and provides a game that is fairly played.

The foregoing and g pear as the'nature ofthe invention is better understood, may be accomplished by `a construction, combinationandarrangement of parts such as is disclosed by the drawings and specification. The'nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes andV modifications',r and, therefore, Iv am not togbe limited to said disclosures; but amentitled vto all -such changes therefrom as fall within the'scopeof my In the drawings: A

Figurel is a front elevational View of my game apparatus. Figure 2 is al side elevational View and Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof. I

Figure 4 is across-sectional view taken through the rod valve and showing parts associated therewith, the valve being shownfin closed' or nnoperating position.A Figure `5 is a similar view; but showing the valve in open-position or playing position. Figure 6 is a longitudinal-sectional view of said rod valve and associated parts'.

Figure 7 is a side elevational view, broken away,

showing the toy figure and associated parts.- lFigure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken through the rod valve ata point beyond the air hole, showing the attachment ofthe saidrod valve to the supporting frame of `my apparatus. Y

yFigure 9 is a diagrammatic 'view showing the wiring arrangement for theprincipal electrically actuated elements of my apparatus. i

1 v :As illustrated, 'I-vprvide a supporting -ffram'e lo onwhich -are set'transparent 'containers I I which other objects which will ap- 9 Claims. (Cl. 273-86) l are lled with water and in which toy gures I2 normally rest at the bottom. These gures may simulate underseadivers, as'shown, and their bodies are hollow, and open at the bottom of their feet to admit water, which normallykeeps them atthe starting point,which is on the container bottom. They have .an air-vent' I3 at the top to' permit escape of air Ywhen the contest ends, `permitting the toy gures I2 to sink to the bottom ready :for the :next game.v The' purpose'of the game is to cause thetoy figures I2 toris`e until onereaches a` predetermined point at the top, which wins the game, and' this is done by forcing Aair intothe toy ligure I2 at the. top thus forcing water out of it at .the bottom and making it suiiiciently buoyant to rise.

Air passes from each player lthrough tubing I4 to an opening at theto'p or head of the toy ligure through a flexible portion Illa. of the tubing in communication therewith. This tubing I4 eX- tends from the 'playing position at the front FR of the apparatus wherethe participating players stand. Said tubing I4 consists of lengths of flexible rubber tubing I4a and copper tubing I4bi.

At the top of each toy lfigure I2 is a supporting washer I6, interiorly screw-threaded, held by a nipple 20 which is xedlto said toy figure I2 and communicates with the interior thereof. Said exibletube I4a is attached to and communicates withsaid nipple'2. A vertically extending actuating rod.-22 is attached to said washer lr6 and its lower portion is threaded to receive a nut 24,',thatl holds? it to said'washer I6, andto screw-threadedly connect with the interior of saidwasher.-

At one endfof said tubing I4, -where the players stand, a copper tube portion I4b communicates with a rubber bulb28, whichmay be the double ball-valvev type' incornmon'vuse. The squeezing and releasing of this bulb 22S-causes air to venter it and pass into said-tube I4 and thence into said toy figures I2,'-thus making the latter buoyant and causing it to rise. Y l

The player who forces the 'most air in la 'continuous stream into said toy vligure 'will cause it to rise and reach a predetermined point or goal, later explained, ahead of the others', thus winning that game. y Attached above each lsaid toy gure I2 and actuating rod 2.2 is a well known-micro-switch 30 which has a blade 32 directly'in the path of said actuating rod r22'.-y When the latter rises and touchesvv saidblade' 32, it closes a circuit from said switchB throughv a wire 34130 a-trah'sformer 35 on' a"chassis 31 v4which supports a number of well known electrical relays 36, connected together, later explained, there being one said relay 36=connected to each said micro-switch, which are mounted on a chassis 3l, and preferably thereA is a fuse F for each relay. The closing of said `circuit also closes a circuit through a wire 3S for all of the top figures, so that it serves asl av l single control for the whole game, later explained. Said rod valve is rotatably held byyalvey housings' 46a which arel lbolted as. at-46b to said frame I0.

Said rod valve 46 is ordinarily madeof solid.

metal and there are holes 41 spaced apart (one for ,each toyk Ligure) extending diametrically 'through'i- In communication with the opposite endsof each said hole 4'I Vis an inlet nipple 48Y and Yan outlet, nipple 5.3 which extend through holes Iin each said valve housingMa. Flexibletube portions I4@4 1112. on Said nipplesfl and Bilthus providing communicationI fromA said bulb 28 through a said rod valve. `hole 41 to each `said tOy'gurel-f on the peripheral surface ofsaid rod valve is,

adjacenteach saidinlettnipple 48; there is provided therein a recess.5 2,,later4 explained, to permitesoapeof air when one-.toy figure I2 reaches the goal, thus, terminatingA the` upward movement of allasaidtoy figures I2, even though the players continue to Squeezesaid bulbs, 28. A handle H onsaidrodvalve 46 permits its movementby handto, move said rod valve 46 to open position. Locating collars C are xed to said rod valve 46 at opposite ends thereof to keep ysaid rod valve. in predetermined position` whereby said holes lll communicate with said nipples when saidrodvalve is inopen position. y

InsaidrFigure. 4 saidrodvalve 4.6.A is. shown in closed position, whereby it releases theair outside, said tubing I4 since said recess 5.2 has been moved to closed positonhintoA communication withsaidvinlet nipple v4.8 andout ofcommunication with said; 1f10,le.,41. In said Figure 5, due to a movementy of saidhandle H which moves solenoid iingerifiv andlever 44, said rod valve 46 has beenmovedltoy openpositionwhereby said hole 41 Aconfirnunicates withbothsaid inlet nipple 43 and outlet nipple so that air flowing from said bulb 28 passes through said hole, 4l and said 'outlet nipple 50 on its :Way through said tubing I4 to the said toy figure i2 it communicates with Thus a short rotativemovementA of'said single rod valve 46 controls the game, either, allowing air to Vpass to all of thev said gures I2 or preventing it from passing to any.

When said actuating rod v22 contacts said micro-switch blade 32 the aforesaidcircuit established through, saidwirer34 to said transformer 35 on the relay chassis V3'Iin turn closes a circuit through a wire 53to a, well known type of elec-. trical bell 56 with clapper 54. Thus said lbell 5S isk rungv when any said toy gure reaches the goal. Another wire 55 extends from said bell to said transformer 35. Y Y

There is also another circuit simultaneously established from a said relay 36 through a wire 58 to one electric light bulb 60in a` socket 6I and through another wire, 62` from said socketto a said relay 36. Aljumperwire 64 extendsfrom a said micro-switch to a said socket 6I to complete the circuit from a said micro-switch to a said relay 36. There is a number opposite each said light bulb 6U, that corresponds to the numbers given each player, and when'the circuit to a said bulb is established vthe number is illuminated, thus showing which players gure toy reached the goal.

A recycling switch 66 of a wellknown type is controlled by a push button 68, which is shown mounted on said frame I 0. A wire 76 extends from said recycling switch 66 to the said relays When said button 68 is pushed the switch lbreaksmor opens the circuit to said relay chassis .'I and to said bell 56v and to a said light bulb 63. This terminates the ringing of the bell 56 5 and'illumination of a said light bulb 68, while said rod valve 46 remains in closed position until rotated manually by said handle H to open position ready to start a newlcontest.

Y In Figure 9 is shown a, .wiringdiagram that illustraties an electrical arrangement,V to operate my game apparatus when set up with four toy iiguresu I2. I show four said Yrelays which are given the numerals 36A, 36B, 36C, and 36D, and whicliarev of the double pole, YVdouble throw type. Said relays Vhave contactL switches S-,Ia'J S-Za, S-3a and S-4cand Sel, Seins- 31 and Si-4 whichl are each activatedby its relay.

The lights 667A, v 6Q- B,6,0,C and; Sil-D are .connected across theirr respective. relays, that. is, 31E-A (itl-A, 36u-BV Ell-TB, Sii-C` Gil-C, 36D Gil-D; The particular light thatis illuminated identiiies the winner. There are pmtectlveiuses F provided fcr each relay' to individually protect the various units from short-circuits.

Four micro-switches are'l shown, 30e-A, Sil-B, Sti-C and 3D-D any oneof which. is activated when the actuating rod 272,below itv makes a contact. Each switch is instantaneous in action, allowingelectrical Y current to;r ow into the various units that are electrically connected.

The transformery v35 is `the' step-downtype, intended to lower the `voltage, as .fro'm 110 A. C. to 13, and to operate the belll E56/to, announcethe winner when the actuating` rod 22o-n asaid'toy figure I2 reaches a predetermined point, it is connected to all the said relays. 4p'. is activated by any-01.3.8, of the relays'and through connecting meaIlS Rleviously explained, and indicated by the dashzlines, operates the rod valve 46. s f .Y Y

Said push button 68 controls a switch and through which electrical current is supported. When it is pressed it interrupts the ow of electrical current to the entiregame', thusmaking the apparatus ready foruthe nextco nte st.

In operation ythe electrical'. current is supplied atthe points marked plusand minus, and from the latter it flows to relay contact.y switches S-Ia, S-Zd. S-Srrandl S-(la.l Any one oitheselatter switchesl thatopells stopsY the flow of current tothe rest, of the circuit.V From thas-4a switch We traceY thecurrent down tothe-micro-switches 3-A, 3UB,.3-C` and.3D1-D.-k Y i If, for: instance, thetoygure directly below said micro-switch 30-A rise s until its actuating rod 32.closesV said switch Sil-A there. is established Y The solenoidV eurrent-through. contactfswitch S-,I ,s keeping-'the lightiillum'inated. until ykthe game? i's recycledby thel control operator 'pushing said push button 68 andthus breakinglthe circuiti `It will be noted that operation of anyone of the' said-.relaysy automatically ,opens-- the :circuit 'sup-V plying 'electricity `to the i other relays, and also switclrie's:j yon J its Town electrical .supply-to? hold #it until manually 'released-v i When my game-(apparatus is used commerciallyAto'conductccntests as at a carnival or beach, it is desirable 'to have electrical connections run to both'llthe belli and the individual light bulbs;y but for other uses, as in a home or a-private club either could be' dispensedwith, or both, since the toy figure that' is highest Ain the container f is 'the winner,` and the container is transparent. However, -it'fis `-desirable to havea valve thatfautomatically' closes? and shuts off the ow'oi air when atoy iigu're reaches the goal; so that the other toy iigures ,cannot receive airY andn be; raised, thusfleadingtoA Vquestions as to whowas the Vtrue l* My ,appar tus' couldalso` bey used as a toyin thehome, using only vone toy figure in that'event, and Vcontests* could be conducted Vbyrnoting: the

l timeirr takes. to'l raise the toy iigureto *a* predetermined point, the one usingthe least timebeingthe winner. In that event the opening'of the valve' i 'could' be' noted Vby the timer, on the. bell fcould'wberung, Or a light bulbvilluminated.

jSaid supporting "frame'lll as 'shown is convenientfor a game played on a commercial basis; but itis lnot,'I iecessa,ry".in allinstances, since said containenrelays'andf other parts could\be placed be actuatedthereby when said toy figure reaches a predeterminedpoint in said path of movement, an electrical relay, electricity transmitting means connecting saidswitchand said relay, a solenoid embodying a movable ngenadapted to be actuated; by electrical l current, .l electricity transmitting means connecting said relay. to said soleno-id,y aflight bulb, electricitytransmitting means connecting saidrelay .to saidrbulb, a bell' adapted tov he ,electrically 1 actuated, electricity transmitting means connecting said relay to said bell, a ro'd valvehaving a hole 'extending laterally therethrough and having aV recess in an outer surface portion thereof, means rotatably supporting said rod valve, an inlet nipple and anoutlet nipplein communication withlopposite ends of saidi hole whensaid valve is irl-'open position and in communicationwith saidY tubing between" said instrumentality and said toy figure, said inlet nipple beingv in communication with` said recess when said Qyalve Tis' in'closed position and out of cemmlriiatlivth,Sal-hele, Supporting means fonsaid nippleswhereby said rod valve may be rotatably moved independently of said nipples,- a leven-.connected movementfofsadngerandxedly connected .to

said. rod-valve whffreby :Increment: of said. finger4 ntofand, adapted to be'v actuated by.

sition and from closed'to open position.

can move said rod valve from open to closed pobe actuated thereby when a said toy ligure reaches a predetermined point in said path of movement, av plurality of electrical relays and a chassis therefor, a transformer on said chassis, electricity transmitting means connecting said switches and said relays, a solenoid embodying a movable finger adapted to be actuated by electrical current, electricity transmitting means connecting said relay chassis to said solenoid, a plurality of light bulbs, electricity transmitting means connecting said relays to said bulbs, a bell adapted to be electrically actuated, transmitting means connecting said transformer to said bell,

an elongated valve having a plurality of holes extending laterally therethrough and having a plurality of recesses inV outer surface portions thereof, means rotatably supporting rsaid rod valve, an inlet nipple for and an outlet nipple for` and in communication with opposite ends of each Vsaid hole when said, valve'is in open position and in communication with saidy tubing l lengths between said instrumentalities and said toy gures; Y'said inlet nipplesv ,being in. communication with said recesses when lsaid :valve'is in closed position andY out of communication with said holes, supporting means for said .nipples whereby said rod valve may be rotatably moved independently of; said nipples, al lever connected to and' adapted tobe actuated by movement of said .finger and flxedly. connected to saidrod valve whereby movement of said finger can move said rod valve from open to .closed position 'and from closedtofopen,position.i i i v 3. 'Game apparatus comprising tubing for the passage of air', an instrumentality in communicationwith and adapted to be actuated to force air into -said tubing,la`hollow. toy figure supported-in a' liquid medium' for moving bodilyY and in communication with., said tubing Aand adapted to receive air therefromand -admit liquid thereinto, a rod valvev having a hole extending laterallyl therethrough, an inlet nipple and an outlet nipple incommunication wi-th opposite ends of said hole when said-valve is in open position and in communication with said-*tubing between1 said instrumentality and .said toy ngure, andsupporting means for said rodvalve adapted rto per-j mitfmovement of said valve relative to said supporting means saidvalve having a recess therein adapted to communicate with asaid nipple when .said valve is moved to closedpositionandVv saidv :latter-mentioned nipple is out' of communication. ,with` Vsaid 1 tubing, 1 :said recess venting to fthe air when saidpvalve is moved to closed'y position."

4. Game apparatus comprisingv a pluralityl of hollowf'toyrgures supported in arliquidimedium to and for each said toy gure. an electrical switch for and located in the path of movement of each said actuating rod and adapted to be actuated thereby when a said toy figure reaches a predetermined point in said path of movement, a plurality of electrical relays, electricity transmitting means connecting said switches and said relays, a solenoid embodying a movablenger adapted to be actuated by electrical current, electricity transmitting means connecting each said relay to said solenoid, a plurality of signal members, electricity transmitting means individually connecting a said relay to said signal members, an elongate rod valve having a plurality oi holes extending laterally therethrough and having a .f

plurality of recesses in outer surface portions thereof, means rotatably supporting said rod valve. an inlet nipple for and an outlet nipple for and in communication with opposite ends of each said hole when said valve is in open position and valve may be rotatably moved independently of said nipples, a lever connected to and adapted to be actuated by movement of said nger and f xedly connected to said rod valve whereby REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITEDv STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 703,262 Howland June 24,1902 1,405,282 Chester Jan. 31, 1922 1,421,238 l-Iulsmann June 27, 1922 1,499,875 Rosenheim July 1, 1924 1,622,570 Budde Mar. 29, 1927 1,684,199 l Pitt 1 Sept. '11, 1928 1,691,521 Jensen Nov. 13, 1928 1,794,636 lMueller s Mar. 3, 1931 1,811,829 Folberth et al June 23, 1931 2,218,164 Carpenter A Oct. 15, '1940 2,297,727 Svoboda et al. 1..----- Oct. 6. 1942 

